Every Thursday in August

Thursday is "Train Day" for the month of August.   If you check the Event Calendar you will see that is true for outings at Carl's.  Time flies, once August is gone, it is back to school and summer is almost over.  If you can,  try and set aside Thursday as "Outing Day".  Time to picnic, run trains or golf carts and enjoy the beautiful outdoors before the whole summer is past.  Please see updated Event Calendar

Amtrak trip re-scheduled to Aug 24th

 The Boston and back trip has been moved to Saturday August 24th. There were several reasons, first at least four people can make that date that could not go before and Amtrak said that was also a better date for them.

 Carl would appreciate it if you can send in your ticket cost in the next few days as MGRS will pay the total cost in one check to Amtrak ahead of time.  Amtrak does want a list of the passengers in our Group.   If you are going please make your check made out to MGRS and send to 82 Carll Rd.  Buxton , ME. 04093.  The round trip fare is $25 per person.

Big Boy 4014 is coming back to life

Read about Big Boy   4-8-8-4 articulated locomotive.  That is 24 wheels, plus the tender has 14 wheels.   Click here for more stats on Big Boy. 

Tiny found a story about old number 4014:
Omaha, Neb., July 23, 2013 – Union Pacific Railroad today announced it reached an agreement with the Southern California Chapter - Railway & Locomotive Historical Society in Pomona, Calif., to transfer ownership of one of the world's largest steam locomotives, Big Boy No. 4014, back to Union Pacific.

Union Pacific plans to relocate No. 4014 to Cheyenne, Wyo., where Union Pacific's Heritage Fleet Operations team will work to restore it to operating condition. Details regarding those efforts will be made public at a later date.

"Our steam locomotive program is a source of great pride to Union Pacific employees past and present," said Ed Dickens, senior manager - Union Pacific Heritage Operations. "We are very excited about the opportunity to bring history to life by restoring No. 4014."

Wardwell Retirement Home and Gorham House Visits

On a magnificent, sunny but cool day, Carl and Pat Churchill hosted Linda, Wardwell’s Activity Director, assisted by Jeannette, a volunteer aide, and 8 residents of Wardwell Retirement Home, Saco, Maine. 

Seven MGRS members were present and participated in operating the Railway and assisting the guests getting around. 

 

 Carl and Scott Gould provided golf cart tours of the trails on the property.

 

 

One of the guests, Red (in cart), was quite the comedian and kept everyone entertained with his jokes.  Jeannette wore a very unusual umbrella hat which was quite effective in providing her shade from the sun.   

The group enjoyed the Garden Railway locale and the running trains.  

Soon after the arrival of the Wardwell visitors, Jeannine Lessard returned to the Garden Railway with about 10 guests and numerous aides from her new association as Activities Director of the Gorham House.  It was quite a reunion as Jeannine had visited our club site many times when she was associated with the Veterans’ Home in Scarborough.

 

Both groups socialized and enjoyed each other’s company.  Of course the trains ran beautifully and the weather cooperated all day.  They enjoyed the Garden Railway locale and the running trains.  A nice sandwich lunch was enjoyed by all prior to the guests’ departure. 

 

Both groups look forward to return visits.

Railfanning Washington DC - Rare Catches at Alexandria, VA

An excellent video, great quality of several trains operating through Alexandria VA.  15 mins of very nice action.  Please click here to view:

Take the Train to Boston and back on August 24th.

All-aboard for Amtrak !!

Carl just called, he has decided on a new date for the Amtrak Trip.   Saturday August 24th is the date.
We have 22 people sign up as being interested.  As many more as want to are welcome to join the trip.

Here is the information I have so far:  The trip is a group rate which is $25 dollars per person for the round trip.   Train # 692 departs Portland at 8am and arrives in Boston at 10:30am.  Carl is looking for ideas as to what is available for us to do while we are there.  We plan to depart Boston at 5pm on Amtrak Train #695 and arrive back in Portland Terminal at 7:30pm.

You can arrange to get on or off at another station if that is more convenient for you.

If you would like to go please let Carl know.

2012 Appreciation Pin

The Board of Directors has approved the 2012 pin to be awarded to all MGRS members or family who signed up or participated in the 2012  Maine Mall Train Display.   Thank you very much for your willingness to help in what to date has been the largest fund raising activity we have held.  In addition we have entertained and educated hundreds of thousands of people who have viewed this free public event operating 10 hours a day over the entire Holiday Season.  Thank You MGRS members, Well done!


View the 2013  pin Click here:

Amtrak picture of the month

Amtrak 187 leads a late westbound California Zephyr across the Yolo Causeway. Sacramento, CA can be seen clearly in the setting sun. 

From John Foley

Here is a story that John Foley (NHGRS) was nice enough to pass along for the blog.  Thanks John!
To view please click here:

Just in ~ No Outing Thursday

To Hot!  Jeanne called and postponed the outing at Carl's today because it is expected to be to hot for the guests to enjoy.  Makes good sense, we will have a chance to see them later on when it will be more comfortable.

A Really Big Thank You

I admire and appreciate the tremendous effort it took to coordinate the Annual Meeting.  All those chairs, cold bottles of water, cold drinks, all the work of preparing all that delicious food plus the desserts.  And people really eat there too!  I mean dig in and eat!!   Thanks to all the people that put up signs, set up the parking lot, got all the Golf Carts ready and drove people all around and help move things.  Thanks to those tremendous displays that members set up, all the work of running the Auction.  Running the Welcome table with Sign ups, Appreciations pins, Rafael Tickets.  All the work to get Door Prizes.  Run Trains, Plus take people on Trail Rides.  Keep everything going and then clean it all up.

I can say thank you because I didn't do any of those things.  I just went and had a great time and truly appreciate the result of all your effort.  Thank you members and thank you Carl and Pat.

That is why we have a great Club. It is the best I have ever been in. The main reason is that we all take turns doing something when we can and that attitude combines to  produce some amazing results!


See slideshow on Website Home Page

Quick note on Sign up Sheets

This shows how great MGRS members are!  We received more than enough names at the Annual Meeting to meet the group size requirement for the Amtrak train trip to Boston!  And that was without picking an actual date.  Once the Board does that we will get the word out to everybody and my guess is that even more people will want to join in.   Thanks go to the membership for supporting the idea.  It will be a lot of fun to go as a group.

Also thank you to members who were the first to sign up to run trains at the Mall this year.  I saw several names on the calendar which was at the Welcome desk.  Unfortunately, I left the papers at Carl's but I hope to get them Wednesday.  Then I will update the info at the top of Blog.    Thank you again for your strong support!!
  

Antique Steam

Thank you to Tom who sent me the link to this website from England.
To take a look: Please click here.

2013 Track Requirements

Carl asked me to publish the pictures we have for this years Maine Mall layout.  These also show the total track requirements that we anticipate.

Updated version 10/15

Video from Annual Meeting

 

 These are just a couple of impromptu video clips not very professional but then I go to the meeting to enjoy it just as you do. And, I thought it was a great meeting.  Seeing and talking to old friends and meeting new  people.  I did not know we had such talent.  Frank Howard is a great guy, he really is.   Listen as Frank plays a little tune on his harmonica as I pan around the area so you can get just a little feel of the atmosphere.  It was a feeling of warmth and friendship and fun.

Of course the Auction is always a big part and a favorite for many of us.   Barry, Buckie, Terry, Sue and Frank all did a great job together.  It will be interesting to hear how we did.  Here is just  a small piece of the activity as Phil who was sitting beside me turned out to be the winner.  Again, Thank you to so many people who contributed to the good time we had!   more to come . . .

Congratulations MGRS Board of Directors 2013-2014

   The Annual Meeting was a great success!  (More on that to come as Art and I complete more blog posts over the next couple of days) .  But, first we want to recognize the new Board of Directors elected today.  Pictured above left to right:  Paul Corbett, Mac McLaughlin, Terry Norton, Art Handman, Dick Cosgrove, Walter Fossett Jr., Carl Churchill and Dennis Farrell.  Not shown is Kathy Young.

  The Board recognized and applauded the achievements of retiring director Andy Hendrickson who we greatly appreciate and welcomed with equal enthusiasm Dennis Farrell who has been appointed as a new Director.  We wish them all great success as they lead the Society forward!  Thank you, from all the membership.

Less than 24 hrs to go.

     The Annual Meeting is almost here!   We are ready.   Look around the house today and if you see an Auction item, put it in the car and bring it with you.  Look forward to seeing old friends again or come for the first time to meet lots of folks that enjoy all the fun that garden railroads offer.  Lots to see and do.  Trains will be running,  G scale displays of items members have made.  Some items for sale.  There will be up coming events you can sign up for.  Free Door prizes for members!  A Great Auction which is fun and a fund raiser,  Absolutely Fantastic Luncheon and Desserts!  Bring something if you can.  There will be 50-50 Raffle tickets if you like.  Golf cart rides to explore all the interesting trails out back.  Plus the official Annual Meeting and election of Officers and Directors.  Starts at 10am, bring a chair to sit down and rest on.  Large parking area,  Free and open to the public.  Note you can also join MGRS if you wish, we have very low annual dues (works out to $1 a month)  to belong to one of the best G scale model railroad organizations in the Country. Tomorrows Open House is at 82 Carll Rd Buxton, Me.

 If you are one of the 63 people who helped support the Main Mall Train Display last year please pick up your pin of appreciation from the Welcome desk.   Thank you ~ Maine Garden Railway Society.

Veterans visit MGRS

 Today the Maine Veterans made their first visit to MGRS for this summer.  It was great to see them again.  They were looking forward to the golf cart rides and they brought lots of food to share with us.   Tiny, Scott, Mike and Mac and Carl all provided rides for the Veterans and Scott cooked up all the hot dogs.  Lots of other members led by Dennis were preparing for the Annual Meeting.  It was a good day and enjoyed by all.

Getting ready

   I think most of us know the Veterans are coming over in a couple of days for an outing.  They should be arriving about 10:30 Thursday morning at Carl's.   That is the same day that Carl wants to get set up for Saturday's Annual Meeting. I am sure we can do both and have a good time all at the same time.  If you can,   please stop by and lend a helping hand.   Thank you.

Quebec Train accident

Please click here for story:

  It is not clear what happened yet.  I heard the train was parked and then cars became uncoupled and rolled back into town creating a devastating explosion when they derailed.   In any event it is a very tragic event that occurred not far from Maine's border involving the MMA.   Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway.

30 second Video Click here:




Follow up story July 9th Criminal investigation launched.

Ironworkers ~ What do they do for excitement?

Click image to enlarge view

 Completing the top of the new World Trade Center which is 1776 feet tall.   Photo from May 2013.  I know this is not train related but when I saw this photo it physically made my stomach queasy and I am sitting in a chair. When I saw the picture I thought . . How is that humanly possible?

Forgive me . . . I couldn't wait to look at a schedule!

Actually, I have looked this up many times.  If I were going myself, this is what I would choose as the best schedule for a typical Saturday.  But, I would be happy with anything we can come up with!

Train Number   Departs  Time       -   Arrives   Time
     692                      Portland  8am            Boston   10:30am
     695                      Boston    5pm             Portland   7:25pm 

Update from Carl Curchill

Carl just called and had a few item to update members with on the Blog.

   Monarch sent a very nice Thank You to MGRS.  They had a wonderful time visiting and they want to plan another outing in the Fall.  Special thanks to all the guys that helped make their day a lot of fun.

  Carl spoke with Ivan and Gerry who are remaining down south for this year so  that Ivan is close to his medical care.  The good news is that Ivan is feeling a lot better!   We love you both and are very happy to hear that news. God bless.

  One last item.  Carl contacted Amtrak and MGRS can get a group rate for a round trip from Portland to Boston and return for $25 dollars a person both ways. (That is a great price ~ ride to Boston in comfort for less than the price of the gas) .   To qualify as a group we have to have 20 people.  Please be thinking about that.  We will probably have a signup sheet available at the Annual Meeting and we can discuss the date then.

Model train disaster-ville

     Please click here:      You will enjoy this if you have a childish simple mind like me.  Otherwise, you will just think it is stupid and dangerous.  But, then I used to like the Adams Family when he would blow up the train bridges.  Not meant to be a good example of anything.

Happy Fourth of July

             Maine Garden Railway Society wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday.

Freedom Train Song and Slideshow 

Tribute to Jim

John
 
Please put the following tribute to Jim Hinkley from Valerie and Dave Chnupa (Santa Clause 2011) on our Blog.
 
"Now greeting passengers at the Upper Station and conducting them through the gates that are always open to receive us."
 
Thank you,
Art Handman

Something added

Please note I have added a new page to the Blog.  It is called the Main Mall History Page.  The link is located at the top of the Blog.  It is actually our history of Maine Garden Railway Society train displays held AT  the Main Mall.  Please take a look by clicking here:

IronHorse ~ May June 2013 issue on line

Thank you Art Handman!  ~  We love our Newsletter and the great job you do to prepare it.  Latest issue as well as all past issues back to 2009 are also available - See index:

Toy Train Auction

Saturday August 3, 2013

Auction  10:00 AM – Preview 7:30 AM

Rochester American Legion Post 7 Hall
94 Eastern Ave, Rochester NH

Click here for pictures of items

List of Items
Thank you Tiny.

Happy July ~ Get ready for a good one!

Remember to check the Event Calender.   The MaineVets will be here on the 11th which is also setup day at Carl's for the Annual Meeting.
Bring a chair to rest on, also bring anything else you want to sell, trade or simply display.  There will be trains, cart rides, lunch, raffels, door prizes, auctions, annual meeting and more!

Later in the month Gorham House and Wardwell will have outings!

Hello . . .  July!!